QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Call for Pilot Coordination Actions – ERANet-LAC 2014
Please note that the Call for Expressions of Interest for Pilot Coordination Actions is a “pilot initiative” within the
framework of the joint activities developed between both regions. Thus, the structure of the call remains open
to suggested improvements.
About the participants
What is the definition of “programme”?
The definition of programme has to be interpreted with a broader view. In project engineering, a programme
consists of a set of projects/measures/activities that support the achievement of the same objective with a
long-term aim. Distinction between programme/project: there can be potential interaction between several
projects with a single programme. Please note that along with the programmes, the infrastructures can also be
supported through the PCA (see definition below).
Examples:

Existing programmes developed at a national level with specific activities in any field of research or
innovation willing to collaborate in these activities with other national programmes

Infrastructures such as laboratories willing to develop common activities with other laboratories
What is the definition of infrastructure?
Among other things, research infrastructure could include equipment or services, a laboratory, an observatory,
a database or a scientific collection. These resources or facilities are used by the scientific community for their
research activities and for facilitating the link with innovation. Infrastructures can be single-site or multi-sites,
virtual or distributed.
Will the Pilot Coordination Actions target specific research fields OR specific types of
activities?
No, there is no thematic focus for this call: the programmes and infrastructures put forward for support can be
from any field of research or innovation, with any type of activities to develop.
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Please note that the existing thematic list of research topics corresponds to another call from the ERANet-LAC:
the Joint Call for projects.
Can the applying programmes or infrastructures correspond to several categories
(research, capacity-building, innovation …)?
The programmes or infrastructures involved in the Pilot Coordination Actions can be cross-cutting. The
applicants can choose to tick more than one box in the application form. This information will be useful to
identify relevant evaluators according to the type of programmes involved, but also to fairly distribute the
budget over the different areas proposed.
Who are the programme or infrastructure owners and managers?
The programme or infrastructure owners and managers have also to be understood in a broad way. It refers to
a position combining a strategic overview on the programme or infrastructure as well as the decision-making
power. Their direct participation in the PCA will allow taking the steps to complete the coordination
successfully.
Does the minimum eligibility condition of 2 partners from the EU and 2 partners from the
CELAC means from 4 different countries?
Yes. The biregional dimension will only be achieved by a partnership composed of minimum 2 different
countries from the EU and 2 different countries from the CELAC. Any country from the two regions is eligible.
Can this international dimension be opened to other regions?
No. Within the framework of the ERANet-LAC project, the Pilot Coordination Actions have to be focused on the
EU-CELAC biregional dimension. However, the proposal and the feasibility plan can mention the possibility of
opening the partnership to other regions beyond the PCA scope.
How to identify partners?
The lead programme or infrastructure as well as the partners involved in the PCA are in charge of searching for
partners. The PCA Call’s helpdesk can disseminate the information through the consortium of the ERANet-LAC.
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Specifically, who applies? (Institution, manager, programmes/infrastructure)
The applicant will be the institution. Through the letter of intent, the institution will give its official support to
the initiative and identify the scope of its commitment (programme or infrastructure involved, scope of
activities).
Can an institution submit several proposals for different programmes or infrastructures?
Yes. An institution can participate to several proposals with its different programmes or infrastructures.
However, you can assume different roles in the different projects submitted – coordinating the proposal or not
according to the institution strategy.
About the overall and specific objectives
Is it possible for an institution to participate in the different initiatives of the ERANet-LAC at
the same time?
There is no obstacle to participating in both the Joint Call for projects and the Pilot Coordination Actions. In
fact, your institution will not be participating in both initiatives with the same status. The Joint Call will directly
target research teams while the Pilot Coordination Actions will target the programme or infrastructure owners
and managers (see definition earlier in this document). Sometimes, the same researcher will take part in a
research project in their capacity as researcher but also take part in the PCA in their capacity as programme or
infrastructure manager.
Can the partnership formed through the Pilot Coordination Action be the base to built a
proposal for the Joint Call for projects?
No. The Pilot Coordination Actions will fund strategic preparatory meetings between programmes or
infrastructures with the objective of establishing a long-term collaboration. Building a proposal for a call for
projects is not the objective of the PCA.
Can the Pilot Coordination Action be developed with the aim of expanding the existing
partnership of a programme or an infrastructure?
Yes. But the biregional dimension must be developed or reinforced and the added value of the PCA to the
existing cooperation must be explained and demonstrated in the proposal. The same principal applies to
existing transnational programmes or infrastructures: they are eligible to apply but must demonstrate the
added value the PCA would offer to the existing scheme of biregional cooperation.
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What can be included in the preparatory meetings supported through the PCA?
Preparatory meetings can include any encounter among PCA stakeholders that will facilitate the definition of a
long-term cooperation framework, i.e.: site visits for better knowledge of the partners, partners meetings backto-back to other events related to the action…
About the expected results
Will the applicant have to produce an intermediary and/or final report?
No. The budget will be managed by IRD and CONICYT, the ERANet-LAC partners responsible for the call, and not
directly by the project managers.
If the activities selected for future coordination imply an additional funding (in addition to
the existing funding of the programmes involved), will it be necessary to identify the
funding sources?
The sources of funding will be key information to include regarding the future cooperation between the
participating programmes or infrastructures. This information will have to be included in the feasibility plan.
What is the expected content of the feasibility plan?
An indicative template for the feasibility plan will be suggested by the ERANet-LAC in order to define the keyinformation to be included. Nevertheless, this feasibility plan can take different forms and will have to be
adjusted by each PCA team.
The conclusions of the feasibility plan will provide the basis for the signature of the MoU between the partner
institutions managing the programmes or infrastructures involved in the PCA.
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